Sleepwalkers (1992)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

Mick Garris

Writer (WGA):

Stephen King (written by)

Release Date:

10 April 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

They feast on your fear - and it's dinner time.

Plot:

A mother-and-son team of strange supernatural creatures come to town to seek out a virgin to feed on.

Plot Keywords:

Life Force | Supernatural | Dancing | Invisible | Open Door For Lady

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Brian Krause	...	Charles Brady
Mädchen Amick	...	Tanya Robertson
Alice Krige	...	Mary Brady
Jim Haynie	...	Sheriff Ira
Cindy Pickett	...	Mrs. Robertson
Ron Perlman	...	Captain Soames
Lyman Ward	...	Mr. Don Robertson
Dan Martin	...	Andy Simpson
Glenn Shadix	...	Mr. Fallows
Cynthia Garris	...	Laurie Travis
Monty Bane	...	Deputy Horace
John Landis	...	Lab Technician
Joe Dante	...	Lab Assistant
Stephen King	...	Cemetery Caretaker
Clive Barker	...	Forensic Tech

Also Known As:

Sleepstalkers (Hong Kong: English title) (cable TV title)
Stephen King's Sleepwalkers

MPAA:

Rated R for some terror/violence and language.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1993) | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | Germany:18 | South Korea:15 (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Norway:(Banned) (1992-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The house of the Sleepwalkers is the same one used in the TV series "The Waltons" (1972).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tanya is trying to start the police car in the end so she can get away while Mary Brady is on fire, Mary leans against the car to shout at Tanya and leaves fire on the hood after sliding off. When Tanya finally puts the police car in reverse the fire is still there, but in the next shot when she stops the car going backwards barely 10 feet the fire is no longer on the hood.

Quotes:

Captain Soames: What?
Sheriff Ira: Cold Draft.
Captain Soames: Could you use one right now?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Cinemania: Stephen King: O vasilias tou tromou" (2009)

Soundtrack:

SLEEPWALK

Look Charles...mommy brought you a virgin!

Okay, put aside the vampires, werewolves, Godzillas and masked serial killers for a while…. What we have here is an entirely new breed of horror species. The Sleepwalkers, as based on Stephen King's unpublished story, are reptile-like creatures that feed on the vitality of young virgins. Charles Brady and his foxy mother are the last of their kind and have a torrid incestuous relationship. But in order not to become extinct, Charles needs to seduce the cute Mädchen Amick so he can suck her dry and pass the energy on to his mum. Pretty far-fetched, isn't it? That's exactly the problem with the whole movie. It tries to be something completely new and inventive but the story fails to give a proper background to these – basically interesting – creatures. Why are they called Sleepwalkers? Why virgins exclusively? What's their origin and how come they're as good as extinct? How come they have the ability to appear invisible and – most importantly – why are ordinary cats their biggest threat?

If you don't bother about the constant illogicalness and major plot holes, you'll sure be entertained. 'Sleepwalkers' contains tons of gore (especially near the end when it's a total cop-massacre) and the silly humor. It's pretty amusing to see a chubby cop getting stabbed by a corncob! 'Cop-Kebab!!!!!' Yet, it has to be said, in between the badness, Sleepwalkers does feature some terrific elements and a few highly entertaining trivia-aspects. The beautiful songs 'Boadiccea' by Enya is one of the best sounds ever featuring in a horror movie. And the film is stuffed with fun cameos of other horror directors like Clive Barker, Tobe Hooper, Joe Dante and John Landis. Stephen King himself shortly appears as the cemetery caretaker. The best advice I can give you when watching this film: Switch your brain to 'off' and have fun.